The death sentence was handed down by a Maine court following two attacks on other animals. Dakota first attacked and killed a shih tzu terrier in May 2016, and then bit another dog, a pug, in 2017. The judge in the case ruled that the animal was too dangerous to be left alive following the attacks, and found its owner guilty of the civil offense of keeping a dangerous dog. She was ordered to be put down within 48 hours of that ruling.